Important Residence Hall Dates

Students gather in a res hall room

To aid students in their planning process the Residence Life Office posts important dates for the current and upcoming academic year. Please refer to the dates below when making travel arrangements to and from Cornell. Students are not permitted in their residence hall room before the time indicated and must vacate their residence hall room by the time indicated. No exceptions are allowed. Students who find it necessary to arrive earlier or depart later are expected to make alternative off-campus arrangements.

Please note the information found on the corresponding links are for the current academic year and are available for reference only.  Links pertaining to fall semester dates will be updated over winter break and links pertaining to spring semester dates will be updated over the summer to reflect information for the following academic year.

Important Res Hall Dates & Events

Fall Semester Event

Time

2026-2027

Residence halls open for new students

8:00 a.m.

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Residence halls open for transfer students

8:00 a.m.

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Residence halls open for returning students

9:00 a.m.

Saturday, August 22, 2026

Last day to change meal plans for fall semester

4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Fall break begins (residence halls remain open)

 

Saturday, November 21, 2026

Living & Learning Community application process begins*

4:00 p.m. TBD
Resident Assistant selection begins 3:30 p.m. TBD

Residence halls close for winter break (housing not offered)

11:00 a.m.

Thursday, December 17, 2026

Spring Semester Event

Time

2026-2027

Residence halls re-open for all students for spring semester

9:00 a.m.

Saturday, January 9, 2027

Last day to change meal plans for spring semester

4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 13, 2027

Off Campus Waitlist for 2027-2028 Seniors

9:00 a.m.

Monday, February 1, 2027

Selection number draw begins

4:00 p.m.

Monday, March 1, 2027

Spring break begins (residence halls remain open)

3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 3, 2027
Wilch Apartments lottery* 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 16, 2027
Room Selection Information Table* 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 16 & 18, 2027
12:00 p.m. Monday, March 22, 2027
Triple Room lottery* 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 31, 2027
Single Room lottery* 8:30 a.m. Friday, April 2, 2027
Senior Doubles Room lottery* 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, 2027
Junior Doubles Room lottery* 1:00 p.m. Thursday, April 8, 2027
Sophomore Doubles Room lottery* 1:00 p.m. Friday, April 8, 2027
Late room draw* 8:00 a.m. Monday, April 12, 2027

Singles Waitlist Opens*

8:30 a.m.

Monday, April 12, 2027

Residence halls close for non-graduating students**

11:00 a.m.

Thursday, May 6, 2027

Residence halls open for full summer housing students**

11:00 a.m.

Thursday, May 6, 2027

Residence halls close for all graduating students

5:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 9, 2027

Residence halls open for eight-week CSRI summer students

1:00 p.m..

TBD

Residence halls close for eight-week CSRI students

5:00 p.m.

TBD

Full summer students transition to fall housing assignments

1:30 p.m.

TBD

*Note: These are housing selection dates for currently enrolled students. Additional information is available on the associated links.  Prospective students and incoming first-year or transfer students should refer to our fall opening web page for information about your housing process.

**Summer students: students who are approved to stay between Block 8 and the beginning of the summer housing agreement date will stay in their academic year housing assignment until they are scheduled to move into their summer housing assignment approximately one week into the summer.